In a letter to the editor of The Times, Scott K. Douglas was right to ask where the capital district’s legislators stand on the affairs of the city of Trenton (“Constituents want to hear from District 15 representatives,” Sept. 26). After all, as host to a large number of tax-exempt properties, Trenton has many challenges and it must depend on extraordinary aid from the state to fund its police and other essential municipal services.

Approximately 20 percent of Trenton’s land is owned by the state and therefore is not subject to property taxes. It has been estimated that if the state were to provide such payments for all the current state-owned, tax-exempt properties, Trenton would receive between $34 million and $45.5 million each year. And that is just for housing the various departments, parking lots and other buildings under the state’s control. The picture is even bleaker when we consider Trenton’s three hospitals, the city and county buildings, the charitable organizations located here, and the many places of worship found within the city — all are housed on tax-exempt properties.

Representing the capital city, I am proud of my partnership with my running mates, Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Lawrence) and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing). Every year, we have battled to secure funding to compensate Trenton’s taxpayers, who must foot the bill themselves for hosting the countless governmental and tax-exempt properties throughout the city. Moreover, the 30,000 state and county employees who work in the capital city need police protection, street repairs and other services the city provides every day. Trenton’s infrastructure is subjected to a large volume of wear and tear on a daily basis, the costs for which city residents ultimately shoulder.

Through our collective efforts, we were able to secure $5,398,288 in direct state PILOT (payments in lieu of property taxes) monies in 2002, which helped fund Trenton’s essential services to residents and visitors to the capital city alike; from 2003 until 2007, we helped secure $16.5 million in PILOT monies each year from the state; in 2008, state PILOT funding was raised to $37.5 million, which was a more realistic sum; in 2009, $35,625,000; and in 2010, $34,910,000.

While we sought $39,375,000 for the 2011 fiscal year, Gov. Christie removed the individual line-item for Trenton’s Capital City Aid and, instead, had the city compete with every other municipality’s request for state funding in what was labeled “Transitional Aid.” In this regard, Trenton was only allocated $27.1 million in 2011. Unfortunately, due to budgetary restraints, it was recently announced that Trenton will receive only $22 million in Transitional Aid for 2012. Moreover, since the latest amount comes with strings attached, through state oversight, it has yet to be determined what will be the final figure.

When one considers that the city’s unique needs have to compete with other state funding priorities, it has been no small feat to ensure any extraordinary aid at all from the state. We now also have to compete with a governor who sees no compelling case that capital city residents should be adequately compensated. Accordingly, it is unfair to expect Trenton’s taxpayers to shoulder the burdens alone.

In a state with an average per capita income of $50,781, Trenton’s average is $14,621. In 2010, the average property-tax bill for the city came in around $3,425, although the actual tax rate often exceeds that of surrounding communities. The disparity is quite obvious. Moreover, while thousands of state workers and county employees commute in and out of Trenton each day, it is the city’s residents who are expected to provide all public safety and other municipal services. Yet the primary landholder — the state itself — pays little for the properties it maintains in the form of direct payments in lieu of property taxes.

In addition, we were disheartened to learn that the city was forced to lay off 105 police officers, who provide public safety to city residents, tourists and state workers. Everyday fears are realized when another shooting is reported in the press. We realize the state needs to make a greater contribution to ensure the public safety of those who work and live in the state’s capital. We have even gone to our federal representatives, seeking help with federal grants so that optimum police protection will continue.

Although our famous bridge says “Trenton Makes, the World Takes,” now is the time for our state to stop taking and start sharing. Gov. Christie should assist us in securing a more permanent stable source of funding and make the capital city a priority.

Reed Gusciora (D-Trenton) represents the 15th District in the New Jersey General Assembly. He and incumbent candidates Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Lawrence) and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) are seeking re-election Nov. 8.